Sex scenes... graphic or no?

lol, it is probably the most interesting thread on the board right now And on the subject of whether or not it's graphic (I may have already commented on this thread, but I didn't bother to go back to see) but I thought the UK version had some pretty graphic scenes, namely the blowjob early in the series. I mean, I had never seen a bj performed in such graphic terms until In the Cut. But the US version definitely had more gratuitous (and there's nothing wrong with that) shots of genitalia and hot and heavy sex on tables and in public, etc.

To add two more cents to this subject, this has been said by a couple of people on this thread, commenting on how anyone could think the US version was "tamed" down. I notice not just on this board but on other boards, the "foreigners" love to talk about how prudish we are and how we would never show anything too graphic where a show like this or other movies, etc. are concerned. I almost have to wonder where that rumor about our TV being squeamish about showing sex or nudity got started or if some of them have even seen any American television. I mean, even when I was young way back in the seventies and eighties, when MAYBE things were more likely to bow to the censors, there were still plenty of movies one could watch on the cable channels that you had to sneak and watch late at night when everyone else was asleep, lol. We're talking full frontal shots, implied bj's, two people in bed, grinding and having full on orgasms. I saw it. I can't speak for anyone else

Sure American network TV has to censor the crap out of stuff, and some cable channels do it too, depending on the channel, but there are plenty of cable movie channels, especially nowadays, where anything goes. Do I think Queer as Folk was groundbreaking in the kind of uncensored real life was shown? Well, maybe in terms of it being gay real life. But the grittiness of straight real life, including the sex and violence and such has been shown for some time I believe. I think that was the basis behind all the accolades to this show being groundbreaking and the first of its kind. It was. But while homosexuality certainly wasn't shown in any major way or with as much regularity as it is now, very likely due to shows such as Queer as Folk, by no means was it a completely outlawed subject in our movies or TV. Mention and portrayal of gay characters on NETWORK American television can be dated back to at least the seventies or so.

EDIT: Oh, and I guess I should add, while the show didn't seem to me to be a tamer version of the UK show sexually, I think another thing that has been a point of contention with some is the changing of Justin's age to 17 for the US version compared to the Nathan character being 15, and Brian's mention of his sexual encounter with his gym teacher taking place when he was 14, two years older than his corresponding counterpart in the UK version. I do happen to find it funny that while the sex would pass muster here in the states, the fact of Justin being "too young" to be with someone of Brian's age was controversial. I have also posted similar comments on other movies/shows--for which I am usually soundly berated for my opinion on the topic--but yeah, I don't know why it is considered "more" controversial about the age difference between Brian and Justin or Nathan and Stuart. Yes, I get that we have our laws against it, blah blah blah. But to me it is two people having sex. CONSENSUAL sex at that. I don't separate it into Justin is a "kid" and Brian is an adult. But that's just me. Again, I saw nothing real controversial about that. Just sayin' *ducks further tomato barrage*